'Union', a track from the new JAG PANZER release, The Scourge Of The Light, which is slated for a March 8th North American release via SPV/Steamhammer, is now streaming online at this location.

"The guitar solo for 'Union' was one of the last tracks I recorded for the album," said Jag Panzer guitarist Chris Lasegue. "Up to that point, I had been recording solos that were a bit on the 'shreddy' side and I wanted to show a different side of my playing. One of my major influences is Eric Johnson, and this solo is a tribute to him. I wanted to capture that flowing, seamless, soulful vibe that he demonstrates in his music. The first part of the solo was pretty much composed in advance, but after that I just improvised, just playing by feeling. During playback I was pretty happy with the way it turned out. Really, that solo is actually my favorite one on the album!"

Jag Panzer recently unveiled a trailer for The Scourge Of The Light. Check it out below:

Check out the final artwork for The Scourge Of The Light, painted by LA artist Justin Yun, below:

According to a press release: For the original band members Harry Conklin (vocals), Mark Briody (guitar) and John Tetley (bass), Jag Panzer has always been something they held close to their hearts.

"We've known each other from our earliest childhood and have never lost sight of the idea that this band is based on," Tetley explains. "I don't exactly want to use the term 'spiritual', but the three of us are connected with this band by a very special relationship. You could say that our lives are inseparably linked with the history of Jag Panzer."

This heartfelt passion has always been apparent in their songs, however: the American band has never sounded as impressive, mature and accomplished as on their latest album The Scourge Of The Light.

The reasons? Well, there are probably a number of them. Without a doubt, the band's two main songwriters, guitarists Mark Briody and Christian Lasegue, have never been in better form. Every one of their extremely dynamic riffs sounds haunting, every melody cuts their listeners to the core.

It may sound like a contradiction, but since guitarist Chris Broderick, who was a band member between 1997 and 2007, left to join MEGADETH, Jag Panzer have returned to their old roots.

"There can be no question that Chris Broderick is an amazing guitarist, and we were really happy for him that he got this chance with Megadeth. But we feel that thanks to Christian Lasegue, Jag Panzer's classic, clearly more melodic power metal style has returned and that the fans will definitely be happy about this."

Tetley may well be right since Jag Panzer's most recent studio recording Casting The Stones (2004) was criticised, especially in Europe, for its noticeably harsher direction.

"We knew that Christian was the best man for the job, after all he was a band member for three years in the mid-1980s."

But there are other reasons, too, why The Scourge Of The Light sounds so impressive. Despite their limited production budget, Jag Panzer spared no expense or effort to give their ten fantastic new songs a driving their trademark sound. For this reason, they asked Jim Morris to mix the recordings at his legendary Morrisound Studios in Florida and sent the result to New York's renowned Sterling Sound for mastering. The result is a real ear catcher, without any ifs and buts: "I feel The Scourge Of The Light is the best-sounding album in the history of JAG PANZER," Tetley rightly expresses his pride in the product of his group's labors.

Jag Panzer lineup:

Harry Conklin - vocals

Mark Briody - guitars

Chris Lasegue - guitars

John Tetley - bass

Rikard Stjernquist - drums

The Scourge Of The Light tracklisting:

'Condemned To Fight'

'The Setting Of The Sun'

'Bringing On The End'

'Call To Arms'

'Cycles'

'Overlord'

'Let It Out'

'Union'

'Burn'

The Book Of Kells'

Check out BW&BK; scribe Mark Gromen's The Scourge Of The Light track by track review at this location.